Feeding apparatus



June 24, 1952 H, F. SUTHERS FEEDING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1949 A INVENTOR. Kara/(Z l. Ja/fiers BY A/LLZZQIM K HTTOR/VEYS June 24, 1952 H, F. SUTHERS FEEDING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1949 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 & yr.

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FEEDING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1949 3 Sheets-Shae b 5 IN VEN TOR.

M WW Patented June 24, 1952 .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,601,570 FEEDING APPARATUS Harold F. Suthers, Ridgefield Park, N. J assignor to Mundet Cork Corporation, North Bergen, N. J a corporation of New York Application June 25, 1949, Serial No. 101,455

. 5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved crown cap feeding apparatus.

It is an object of the invention to positively grip and propel crowns to effectively. feed them to anfassembly, a spot, counting machine, etc.

Additional objects are those of reducin mutilation of the crowns as they are moved in a single file and that of providing a hopper which is notlimited to use in a horizontal position.

A further object is that of achieving the desired results by a relatively simple, inexpensive structureand which will have a long, effective life. 7

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a hopper assembly;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view along the lines 2-2 and in the direction of the arrows as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the lines 3-3 and in the direction of the arrows as also indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatus taken along the lines 4--4 and in the direction of the arrows as indicatedin Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a similar plan view;

Figs. "6 and 7 are transverse sectional views taken along the lines G l; and 1-'I respectively and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig." 4; and

Fig.- 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing an alternative form of the structure.

In these views there has generally been shown a hopper assembly. As will be understood, the particular design is one accepted type. As will be apparent from a reading of the following specification, the invention might be embodied in other types of apparatus. Therefore, except where otherwise indicated in the claims the present description and drawings are to be taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense.

Thus, referring primarily to Figs. 1 and 2 the numeral l indicates a suitable base upon which the supporting structure H is disposed. Within the enclosure provided by this structure a motor 12 and drive I3 may be arranged to operate a gear I! in turn driving a gear l and a shaft I6 attached thereto. The latter may be suitably supported in bearings I1 and at its upper end may extend through a plate l8 mounted on the supporting structure I I.

Secured to the upper end of the shaft 16 is a rotating element l9 of the hopper assembly. Encircling this element is the stationary shell 20. While not shown in the drawings, it will be understood that a hopper structure may be disposed above the element I9 and extend into the shell. This and other parts may, as afore brought out, embody various designs best calculated to produce the desired functional results in an assembly of which they form a part.

As shown to best advantage in Figs. 6 and 7 the edge portion of the rotating element extends downwardly as indicated at 20'. It may terminate inan outwardly extending rim 2|. As shown, especially in Fig. 8, the periphery of the rotor or element l9 may be formed so as not to include a rim portion 2|. In any event, the shell conveniently mounts an arcuate strip 22 adjacent the surface 20' of the element and this strip may have an inward flange or rib 23 riding within a groove 24 formed in the edge adjacent the rotor surface. Accordingly, except in the zone-of the strip, a space for the reception'of crowns exists between the element l9 and the adjacent face of the shell 20.

At a number of points spaced around the periphery of flange 20' of element l9, recesses are provided. These recesses receive permanent magnets 25 which extend flush with the outer edge of the rotor or element and are secured in position in any desired and acceptable manner. They may each be slotted as at 26 to accommodatethe rib 23.

As shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 5 the shell 20 may be formed with an opening providing a delivery chute or aperture 21. that opening unit 22 is interrupted and a stripper and plow structure 28 is mounted to extend in advance of these openings and into the grooves 24 and 26 of the edge portions and magnets.

In operation it will be appreciated that the crowns are delivered in any suitable manner into the shell 20. With the rotor or element [9 turning at proper speed the crowns will be moved radially. They will pass over the edge of the rotor and then downwardly on to the periphery 20 of that element. They will remain in positions adjacent the magnets until they reach points in advance of the delivery chute 21. At that point the stripper and plow 28 will function to definitely separate them from the peripheral edge 20. Incident to the momentum of the parts they will further pass sequentially through that chute and be received or, if desired, they will be In line with sto m stood that the hopper may be placed'at an angle of 45. Under these circumstances the magnetic force will attract and retain the crowns and the latter may be discharged at an elevated'po's'ition,

For clarity of illustrating the drawings show the apparatus in merely a conventiona1 position but the factor of angular dispositionis to be kept in mind whenconsidering these drawings. 7

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as a forenoted are, achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction, and rearrangement ofthe parts mightbe resorted to without, departing from the spirit of theinvention as-defined by the claims.

Iclaimp, 7 1. An .apparatusof the character described-imcluding in :combination a. rotatable element :presenting a,per,ipheral edge portion formed with recesses, ,magnets mounted within said recesses, said peripheral portion and the magnets mounted thereon being disposed with aligned .uninterr rupted groovesand a stripper disposed adjacent said elementand extendingfinto said grooves An apparatus. of the character described'ineluding in combination a rotatable elem'entpr'e senting 'a iperiphera1 e'dge portion for-med with recesses, magnets mounted within said ecesses, said peripheral portion and the magnets'mounted thereon being disposed with aligned grooves, a stripper, extending into said i grooves, a shell encircling said element and formed with an opening throughywhich crowns areto be delivere'djand means ,forsecuringsaid stripper to said shell to extend iforwardlyof said opening.

;Af eeding apparatus for bottle ca"'s cdmpfisinglin' combinationa rotati'ng element,"a shellencircling, said, element and spaced beyond ithe periphery thereof a distance in "excess 'ofJth'e height of the caps to be fed, magnet fc'arried'by said-element and extending adjacent its periphery'whereby'caps will move over the upper sur- 4 face of the element and be magnetically secured to its periphery to rotate therewith in the space intervening such periphery and the inner face of the shell, said shell presenting an opening, the periphery of said element being formed with an uninterrupted groove, and a stripper secured to said shell to extend into said groove and detach caps from the element and divert them through said opening.

4. A feeding apparatus for bottle caps comprising in combination a rotating element, a shell encircling said element and spaced beyond the ,peripherytherBQt a "distance in excess of the heightjof the caps 'to be fed, magnets carried by 'sa'id element and extending adjacent its periphery whereby caps will move over the upper surface of the element and be magnetically secured to its 'periphery to rotate therewith in the space intervening such periphery and the inner face of the shell, said shell presenting an opening, the ends of said magnets being grooved and the periphery of said element being also formed with a groove continuous with said magnet grooves, and a stripper secured-to said shell and extending into saidgrooveto detach caps fromethe periph cry of said'element anddivert-them through said p nin 5. A feeding apparatus for bottle caps comprisingjin combination arotatable element, a shell enclosing, said element and, formed with an opening, a rim extending outwardly from said element and disposed {adjacent the lower ed e 91 said opening, said rim serving as a supporttor caps intervening the periphery of said element and-the inner-face of said shell, magnets carried by said elementadjacent the periphery of the same, and cap stripping means carried by said shellat a point adjacent, its opening and extending in'proximity to the'p'eriphery of said element.

amen) F. sU'rHsRs.

REFERENCES ems The'following references are of record in the file of this patent: I I 1 UNITED "'sTA'rEs P'ATENTs I Date.

Number Name 345,415 Hicks; F;eb. 25,1907 96 30 K k aar Jun 1 19 1 3 4316 r nkm t pr- 3.1 .9 5 1,35 5 :Gayno o; it- 2 1,983,471 Kramer -p ec. 4, 39; 2,204,127 Domke l June 11,-1940 

